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Course Records Smashed in Bungay Marathon

Lowestoft’s Carl Prewer romped to victory in the Bungay Black Dog Marathon on Sunday 10 April 2011 – and reclaimed the record for the event in the process. The Lowestoft Road Runner lost the record to Steve Prosser last year and came to the event determined to win it back. He led from the start and by the end he was a full 10 minutes ahead of his nearest rival in a time of 2:42:56, taking 1 minute and 47 seconds off Prosser’s 2010 mark of 2:44:43. Prewer had set the record for the new course in 2007, and after a run in good conditions yesterday he admitted to being “rather satisfied” at reclaiming it from the Essex runner, who did not compete this year. “It was quite warm and a bit breezy along the first half but the second half was good though I was tired,” he said. “I came wanting to get the record back and I did, and I’m rather satisfied.”

The course takes a route along both side of the Waveney Valley from Bungay to Beccles on the Suffolk side and back to the Maltings Meadow on the Norfolk side, with marathon runners doing two laps.

Second yesterday was Christopher Tilbrook, of St Alban’s Striders in 2:55:14, while Bungay Black Dog Running Club’s Matthew Lawes, put in a great run to finish third in 2-58:45 in the entry of over 300 runners. In the women’s race the winner was equally decisive. Seasoned runner Susan Harrison, of Leamington AC won in 2:56:19 and smashed the women’s record.  She was nearly 18 minutes ahead of runner-up Monica Fee, of Long Eaton RC, who clocked 3-14:07.  Susan was 17th in the London Marathon elite field last year in a time of 2:38:50, and ran for England in August, winning the IAU World 50km final in Ireland in a time of 3:15:43, to set a new UK and World Masters record. Third was Lucy Hovard in 3:14:13.

Norwich Road Runners’ Tim Topper won the half-marathon in 1:16:25, well ahead of Matthew Spencer (1:22:24 and third-placed Alan Cooney (1:22:41). Deborah Hall (Portsmouth Joggers) won the women’s half-marathon in 1:34:10, ahead of Sheryl Andrew (1:36:56 )and third placed Mary Norman (Ryde Harriers) in 1:37:03. There were 520 entries in all in the half-marathon.

Lowestoft Road Runners (Prewer, Chris Scott and Carl Mean) won the team prize in the full marathon, with Ipswich Jaffa taking the half marathon team prize. Bungay Black Dogs (Lucy Devereux, Alex Manning and Judy Potter) won the women’s half-marathon team prize.

There were large crowds at the Maltings Meadow base for the event, and along the route to encourage the runners. The races were started by the Mayor of Bungay, Simon Woods, and the Town Reeve, the Rev Roger Allen, presented prizes at the end.

Next year will mark the event’s 30th anniversary.

The fun run attracted 74 entries in all ages groups.

Organiser Sally Nicholls said it went very well and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. The course was about one mile around the Maltings Meadow, so the finishers did extremely well especially the under-fives.

Category winners were as follows: Male: adult – Graham Booker; 13-17 years – Ted Oldman; 9-12 years – Charlie Tilbrook; 6-8 years – Cory Thurston; under fives – Charlie Kerrison. Female: adult – Beck Sturgeon; 13-17 years – Emily Gooderham; 9-12 years – Hannah Barnes; 6-8 years – Katy Youngman; under fives – Jessica Scott.

For the full results of the marathon & half marathon Click Here.